While the number of dengue-related casualties in Cebu City has tremendously dropped to only eight from January 1 to May 23 this year as compared to 24 deaths for the same period last year, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he is not satisfied with the figure.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña is amenable to the suggestion that the city government appropriate funds for television and radio advertisements that will warn the public and give them more ideas on how to avoid contracting the dreaded Influenza A(H1N1) virus.

Oil firms announced on Monday hikes in the pump prices of their petroleum products effective Tuesday. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation announced an increase of P0.50 per liter on its gasoline product and P0.75 per liter on its diesel and kerosene products "reflect higher product costs."

Pilipinas Shell also announced an increase of P1.50 per kilogram on its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) product "to reflect higher international contract price."

Pilipinas Shell said its new prices would be effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

Petron Corp. also announced increases in the pump prices of their products similar to Pilipinas Shell. The implementation of its price increase would be on 6 a.m. Tuesday. It also said the hike "is to reflect the international prices of these products."

Chevron Philippines (formerly Caltex) announced that the wholesale purchase price of its Gold, Silver, Silver, E10 and regular gasoline products will increase P0.50 per liter while its diesel and kerosene products will also increase by P0.75 per liter (VAT included). The increase was "due to market forces" said Toby Nebrida, Chevron spokesman.

Chevron said it will implement the price hikes 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Total Philippines meanwhile announced P0.50 per liter hike on its gasoline product and a P0.75 per liter hike on its diesel and kerosene products. Its cooking gas would also be increased by P1.50 per kilogram (excluding VAT) while its autoLPG would increase by P1.00 per liter.

Total said its increased prices would be implemented 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The LPG Marketers Association (LPGMA) earlier announced an increase in the price of its LPG products by P1.50 per kilogram or P16.50 per 11-kg tank effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

LPGMA President Arnel Ty said they will also implement another price hike next week of P1 per kilogram to reflect the $43 spike in June contract prices.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 has given taxi drivers and operators another month to comply with the requirements for the implementation of the taxi receipt system which is the use of cash registry machines (CRMs) in issuing receipts.

The Department of Labor and Employment will conduct a bigger three-day nationwide job and livelihood fair as part of the observance of Independence Day on June 12, following the successful Labor Day job fair that hired 10,000 workers on the spot last May 1.

The state weather bureau and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reminded shipping companies to constantly check on weather updates to avoid another sea tragedy like the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars in 2008 that killed more than 800 people.

The Senate Committee on Local Government Chaired by Senator Benigno S. Aquino III has approved House Bill No. 5007 separating Lapu-Lapu City from the 6th District of the Province of Cebu to constitute a lone legislative district.

The City of Cebu and the Association of Barangay Councils will present their respective position papers on the proposed bill that seeks to form a new barangay out of sitios Banawa and Englis in Barangay Guadalupe.

After having been stalled for more than a year, the parricide case against Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. was re-raffled yesterday to a new judge who will continue hearing the case.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said that Governor Gwendolyn Garcia should either admit or deny in public that scrap steel was used to construct the controversial Cebu International Convention Center.

Self-Styled anti-corruption crusader Crisologo Saavedra yesterday asked the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas to investigate the alleged anomalous transaction entered into by the Provincial Government of Cebu with the WT Construction for the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center.

The officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways accused in the controversial ASEAN lamppost case deliberately used the officials of Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City because of "ulterior designs of excessively overpricing the lampposts", according to the Visayas Ombudsman.

The Senate passed on third reading on Monday evening the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), which would extend for another five years the land-acquisition and distribution program with a whopping budget of P147 billion.

An Air France jet carrying 228 people from Rio de Janeiro to Paris hit strong turbulance and lost contact with air traffic controllers over the Atlantic Ocean, officials said Monday. Brazil began a search mission off its northeastern coast.

No amount of work load could stop these three stars from going back to school this year. Amid their busy schedules, Zaijan Jaranilla, a.k.a. Santino, Erich Gonzales and Coco Martin were among the millions of youngsters who would troop to their respective schools Monday.